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WF1000XM5
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Life Q30
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

Go for the Sony WF1000XM5 if you appreciate high sound quality, portability, and active noise cancelling in earbuds, especially during air travel. However, be prepared to pay a premium price. The Soundcore Life Q30 headphones come at a lower cost and have the advantage of a wired option, longer battery life, and a foldable design which is good for portability despite being bulkier. Both are suitable for various audio contents and environments but the Sony has better sound quality, while the Soundcore offers more battery life and the versatility of a wired connection. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
  • Very good for music
Advantages of the Soundcore Life Q30
  • The Soundcore Life Q30 has no clear advantages over the Sony WF1000XM5.

Key differences

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Music

8.0
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
7.1
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is good.

Battery

9.0 Hours
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
44.0 Hours
The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life. The Soundcore Life Q30 has 44 hours of battery life.

Cost

$298
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
$80
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The Sony WF1000XM5 has a price of $298 and the Soundcore Life Q30 costs $80.
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Key similarities

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Gaming

5.1
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
5.3
The Soundcore Life Q30 and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for gaming.

Phone Calls

5.0
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
5.1
The Soundcore Life Q30 and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

4.9
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
4.8
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Soundcore Life Q30 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.

TV and Video

5.4
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
5.4
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Soundcore Life Q30 are both poor for TV and video.

Noise Reduction

8.7
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Soundcore Life Q30 are both very good for noise reduction.

Build Quality

8.5
WF1000XM5
Life Q30
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Soundcore Life Q30 both have very good build quality.

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How the Sony WF1000XM5 and the Soundcore Life Q30 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Sony WF1000XM5Soundcore Life Q30
Sony WF1000XM5Soundcore Life Q30

GENERAL

Price
$298
$80
Brand
SonySoundcore
Release Date
July 1, 2023August 1, 2020
Form Factor
EarbudsHeadphones
Connectivity
WirelessWired + Wireless

SOUND

Music Score
8.1/107.2/10
Phone Calls Score
5/105.2/10
Gaming Score
5.2/105.3/10
TV and Video Score
5.5/105.4/10
Exercise Score
6.2/105.3/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
9 Hours44 Hours
Wireless charging
YesNo
Charging time
1.5 Hours1.7 Hours
Bluetooth version
5.35
Case Battery Life
18N/A

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
YesYes
Noise Reduction Score
8.8/108.8/10
Virtual Surround
YesN/A
Android App
YesYes
iOS App
YesYes
Mic Quality
6.5/108/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/108/10
Comfort score
7.6/107.6/10
Size
MediumN/A
Weight (headset or single earbud)
6 Grams263 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedIntegrated

Shopping

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Sony WF1000XM5

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."

Soundcore Life Q30

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Headphones Addict

Peter Susic | December 2021
"Every once in a while, headphones with an excellent price/performance ratio arrive that truly deserves all attention. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are one of those headphones. Of course, they aren’t perfect, but they do most things better than their competition. Or they give you the option to make them better."

Get a great deal on the Sony WF1000XM5 or the Soundcore Life Q30

About Sony

Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.

About Soundcore

Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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